Media pick assembly with motorized carriage

ABSTRACT

Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for providing a media pick assembly with a motorized carriage.

BACKGROUND

In some printers and copiers, movement of the pick head can inadvertently skew the top sheet of media in the tray and cause the media to jam or not load. Further, if the pick head lowers before the tray is fully closed, the pick head can drag on the top sheet of media and cause it to slide and/or skew relative to the rest of the media stack. Jams or no-picks can also occur when the tray is being opened. For instance, if there is a delay of the pick head/arm rising when a tray is being opened, the pick head/arm assembly can drag sideways on a media stack and skew the top sheet of the stack. This situation occurs in the first portion of a tray being opened when the pick head is still resting on the media stack. Although the user may see a sheet of media skewed when a tray is fully opened, there is a risk that the user will not see it and load more media on top of the skewed sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a media reproduction device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows plural trays for retaining media in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged perspective view of a media tray with a pick assembly in a lowered position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the pick assembly in a lowered position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged perspective view of a media tray with a pick assembly in a raised position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the pick assembly in a raised position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram for controlling a media pick arm utilizing a motorized carriage system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments are directed to apparatus, systems, and methods for controlling a media pick arm with a motorized carriage.

One exemplary embodiment utilizes a firmware controlled motor to engage and disengage media using a pick head/arm assembly. The motor moves a carriage fore and aft relative to a front of a media tray. Attached to the carriage is the pick head/arm assembly that lowers to a picking position on the top of a stack of media as the carriage moves towards the front of the pick tray when a print job is starting. When the print job has ended, the motor moves the carriage back away from the front of the pick tray. This movement raises the pick head/arm assembly to a position such that the media tray can be opened without the pick head/arm assembly disturbing media stacked in the media tray. As such, media is not skewed or otherwise disrupted by the pick head/arm assembly.

In one exemplary embodiment, as the carriage moves towards the front of the media tray, an interlock is engaged with the tray such that the tray cannot be opened. When the motor moves the carriage away from the front of the tray, the interlock is disengaged and the media tray can be opened once again. The interlock system provides a means to eliminate the tray from being opened with the pick head/arm assembly in contact with a stack of media. This eliminates any possibility of the pick head/arm skewing a sheet of media by means of sliding across a media stack as the media tray is opened or closed.

Exemplary embodiments are utilized in a wide variety of electronic media reproduction devices. By way of example, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary media reproduction device 100 that performs one or more of printing, copying, scanning, and sending/receiving facsimiles, to name a few examples. In one embodiment, the device is a multi-functional device (MFD) that incorporates the functionality of a computer and/or one or more peripheral devices, such as a printer, copier, scanner, facsimile machine, telephone, etc.

Device 100 includes a display or interface 102 and one or more media trays 104. By way of example, three media trays are vertically stacked together. FIG. 2 shows three media trays 104A, 104B, and 104C. Each media tray includes a media storage area 108 and media pick assembly 110.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the media tray 104 with a pick assembly 110 in a lowered position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The pick assembly 110 includes a structure 140 supporting a carriage 142. Carriage 142 has a pick arm 144 and a pick head 146 for moving media 150. The carriage is mounted in the structure 140 and slides back and forth as the media tray 104 is opened and closed. Movement of the carriage back and forth by motor control (as opposed to moving by a user opening and closing the tray).

Pick arm 144 includes a roller follower 160, and structure 140 includes a top side with a horizontal shelf 162, and a ramp 164. The ramp 164 guides the roller follower 160 along a path as the carriage 142 and pick arm/head 144, 146 travel toward and away from a front side 180 of media tray 104.

In one exemplary embodiment, the structure 140 is rigidly fixed to support the carriage 142 and a firmware controlled actuator or motor 170. The motor includes a gear train system 172 that engages with a gear rack 174 mounted on the carriage.

An automatic locking system 200 is used to lock the media tray 104 to prevent a user from opening the media tray while the pick head is in a lowered position and resting on the media 150. An interlock pin 202 moves into and out of an opening 204 in media tray 104. When the interlock pin 202 is engaged in the opening 204, the tray is prevented from moving in the open direction along arrow 210.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the media tray 104 with a pick assembly 110 in a raised position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The media tray 104 is in a closed position with the carriage 142 and interlock pin 202 in a disengaged or back position. In this position, the media tray can be opened. Since the pick head 146 is not resting on the media stack, media is not skewed or moved while the tray is being opened and closed. Further, an edge of tray (example edge 220) will not contact and damage the pick head if the media tray is quickly opened with a low stack of media in the tray.

In one exemplary embodiment, firmware is utilized to control motor 170 to engage and disengage the pick assembly 110. The motor moves the carriage 142 fore and aft relative to the front side 180 of media tray 104. Attached to the carriage 142 is the pick arm 144 and pick head 146 (or pick head/arm assembly) that drops down to a picking position on the top of a stack of media 150 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B).

The carriage 142 moves towards the front of the tray when a media reproduction job (example, copy or print) is starting. When the print job has ended, the motor 170 moves the carriage back away from the front of the media tray 104. Movement of the carriage, in turn, raises the pick head/arm assembly to a position such that the media tray 104 can be safely opened without the pick head/arm assembly dragging sideways on the stack of media.

As the carriage moves towards the front of the media tray, the locking system 200 automatically engages the media tray 104 to prevent the tray from being opened. When the motor 170 moves the carriage 142 away from the front of the tray, the locking system 200 is disengaged and the media tray can be safely opened once again.

The locking system 200 provides a means to eliminate the media tray 104 from being opened with the pick head/arm assembly in contact with a stack of media. This embodiment eliminates any possibility of the pick head/arm skewing a sheet of media by means of sliding across a media stack as the media tray is opened or closed. When there is no copy or print job, the pick head/arm is in a raised and back position. It is held in the raised or up position by the roller follower 160 on an extension of the pick arm 144 that rests under the horizontal structural shelf 162 when the pick arm/head is in the back position.

In one exemplary embodiment, the pick head/arm 144, 146 is mounted to the carriage 142 that is driven back and forth within the structure as the media tray is opened and closed. The motor 170 and motorized gear train system 172 cooperate to drive the carriage back and forth (as opposed to manually moving the carriage back and forth when a user opens and closes the tray). When there is no print or copy job (or media sheets needing to be picked), firmware controls the motor 170 such that it translates the carriage 142 back away from the front side 180 of the media tray. When media (example, sheets of paper) need to be picked from the media tray, firmware controls the motor 170 such that the carriage 142 translates towards the front of the media tray 180.

Since the pick head/arm 144, 146 is mounted to the carriage 142, the pick head/arm translates back and forth with the carriage when the media sheets need and do not need to be picked. As the carriage is driven back, the roller follower 160 mounted on the pick arm 144 travels down ramp 164 as the pick head/arm slides back away from the front side 180 of the media tray 104. The roller follower on the pick arm extension travels down the ramp and causes the pick head/arm to raise as the carriage (and pick head/arm) travels back away from the front wall of the pick tray.

Once the carriage 142 and pick head/arm 144, 146 are in the farthest back position, the roller follower 160 will have transitioned from going down the ramp 164 to traveling horizontally back under the structural horizontal shelf 162 for a short distance. This structural shelf pushes down on the roller follower keeping the pick head/arm in the up position.

In one exemplary embodiment, the locking system 200 includes a pin 202. The pin is mounted to the carriage 142 and engages with the media tray 104 when the carriage is located in the forward or pick position. The pin passes through a hole or opening 204 in the media tray and prevents the media tray from being opened when the pick head/arm is in the forward/down (pick) position. When no media is needed to be picked, the carriage 142 and pin 202 are driven back away from the front of the carriage. This movement causes the pin to disengage from the media tray.

In one exemplary embodiment, the pin 202 is independent of the carriage. For instance, the pin has its own separate firmware controllable actuator. In another embodiment, the pin uses the same firmware actuator that drives the carriage but with its own gear train and mounting scheme.

In one exemplary embodiment, the motor 170 is mounted to the structure that the carriage slides within. The motor is connected to the carriage through the gear train system 172 with the gear rack 174 being mounted to the carriage. As the motor is engaged, the gear train rotates and applies a force to the rack mounted on the carriage. This force in turn causes the carriage to move linearly on its rails. As an alternative embodiment, a linkage system is used rather than a gear train and rack system. As another alternative embodiment, a cable system or a linear actuator (such as a solenoid) are used.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram 500 for controlling a media pick arm utilizing a motorized carriage system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. According to block 510, electronic notification is received to start a print or copy job. For instance, a user initiates a request to print or copy a document. Upon notification of a print job, the carriage is moved to a media pick position, as shown in block 520. The pick head/arm is lowered to the media pick position and the media tray is locked according to block 530. In one exemplary embodiment, the pick head/arm simultaneously lowers as the carriage moves toward the media pick position.

According to block 540, media is picked or loaded in accordance with the notification. At block 550, a question is asked: Has the print job ended? If the answer to this question is “no” then flow proceeds back to block 540 where more media is picked. If the answer to this question is “yes” then flow proceeds to block 560. The pick head/arm assembly raises from the media pick position and the media tray is unlocked. The carriage moves away from the media pick position according to block 570. In one exemplary embodiment, the pick head/arm simultaneously raises as the carriage moves away from the media pick position.

In one exemplary embodiment, the pick head is maintained in an up or raised position until the media tray is fully closed. This embodiment prevents the pick head from prematurely dropping, dragging on the media stack, and causing media to slide or skew and lead to no-picks or jams. The motor driven carriage is robust to protect the carriage against binding, heavy shock, or vibrational loading.

In one exemplary embodiment, the pick head/arm is retained in a raised or up position when the tray is starting to be opened. This embodiment eliminates the possibility of the pick head/arm from dragging on the media stack and causing skew that leads to jams or no-picks. Further, the pick head/arm is not prone to contacting the media tray if the media tray is opened very fast.

Exemplary embodiments reduce the force needed to open and close a media tray. This reduction in force occurs because the motorized carriage raises and lowers the pick head/arm (as opposed to manually opening and closing action of a media tray to raise and lower the pick head/arm). The locking system prevents a user from opening the media tray during the middle of a pick.

As used herein, the term “print operation” means a process to copy or reproduce something.

In one exemplary embodiment, one or more blocks or steps discussed herein are automated. In other words, apparatus, systems, and methods occur automatically. As used herein, the terms “automated” or “automatically” (and like variations thereof) mean controlled operation of an apparatus, system, and/or process using computers and/or mechanical/electrical devices without the necessity of human intervention, observation, effort and/or decision.

The methods in accordance with exemplary embodiments are provided as examples and should not be construed to limit other embodiments. For instance, blocks in diagrams or numbers (such as (1), (2), etc.) should not be construed as steps that must proceed in a particular order. Additional blocks/steps may be added, some blocks/steps removed, or the order of the blocks/steps altered and still be within the scope of the exemplary embodiments. Further, methods or steps discussed within different figures can be added to or exchanged with methods of steps in other figures. Further yet, specific numerical data values (such as specific quantities, numbers, categories, etc.) or other specific information should be interpreted as illustrative for discussing exemplary embodiments. Such specific information is not provided to limit embodiments.

Various embodiments are implemented as a method, system, and/or apparatus. As one example, exemplary embodiments and steps associated therewith are implemented as one or more computer software programs to implement the methods described herein. The software is implemented as one or more modules (also referred to as code subroutines, or “objects” in object-oriented programming). The location of the software will differ for the various alternative embodiments. The software programming code, for example, is accessed by a processor or processors of the computer or server from long-term storage media of some type, such as a CD-ROM drive or hard drive. The software programming code is embodied or stored on any of a variety of known media for use with a data processing system or in any memory device such as semiconductor, magnetic and optical devices, including a disk, hard drive, CD-ROM, ROM, etc. The code is distributed on such media, or is distributed to users from the memory or storage of one computer system over a network of some type to other computer systems for use by users of such other systems. Alternatively, the programming code is embodied in the memory and accessed by the processor using the bus. The techniques and methods for embodying software programming code in memory, on physical media, and/or distributing software code via networks are well known and will not be further discussed herein.

The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various embodiments. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications. 

1) An apparatus, comprising: a pick assembly that engages media during a print operation; a carriage coupled to the pick assembly; and a motor that moves the carriage to a media picking position upon receiving notification of the print operation and moves the carriage away from the media picking position upon completing the print operation. 2) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a media tray that contains the media; a locking system including a pin that engages an opening in the media tray during the print operation and disengages from the opening upon completing the print operation. 3) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor automatically lowers the pick assembly to engage the media upon receiving the notification of the print command. 4) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pick assembly raises to disengage the media while the motor moves the carriage away from the media picking position. 5) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor raises the pick assembly upon completing the print operation to enable a media tray to be opened without the pick assembly contacting the media. 6) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a media tray having a front sidewall, wherein the motor moves the carriage toward the front sidewall upon receiving the notification of the print operation and moves the carriage away from the front sidewall upon completing the print operation. 7) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a locking system automatically engages a tray containing the media as the carriage moves toward the picking position, the locking system preventing the tray from being opened during the print operation. 8) A method, comprising: moving a carriage with an actuator to a media pick position upon receiving notification to start a print or copy operation; lowering a pick assembly to engage media while the carriage is moving to the media pick position; and moving the carriage with the actuator away from the media pick position upon completing the print or copy operation. 9) The method of claim 8 further comprising: engaging the media with the pick assembly; raising the pick assembly to disengage the media while the carriage is moving away from the media pick position. 10) The method of claim 8 further comprising: causing a locking mechanism to engage a tray holding the media while the carriage is moved to the media pick position; using the locking mechanism to prevent a user from opening the tray while the print or copy operation is occurring. 11) The method of claim 8 further comprising, moving the pick assembly with the actuator to a raised position disengaged from the media when no print or copy operation is being performed. 12) The method of claim 8 further comprising, moving with the actuator the carriage to and from the media pick position to reduce a force needed to open and close a media tray that contains the media. 13) The method of claim 8 further comprising, preventing a user from opening a media tray holding the media while the print or copy operation is occurring. 14) An apparatus, comprising: a pick assembly for moving media; a carriage attached to the pick assembly; and a motor for moving the carriage between (1) a first position that enables the pick assembly to engage media during a print or copy operation and (2) a second position to disengage the pick assembly from the media. 15) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the motor moves the carriage to the first position upon receiving electronic notification to commence the print or copy operation. 16) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the motor moves the carriage to the second position upon receiving electronic notification that the print or copy operation is completed. 17) The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising, a roller follower mounted to the pick assembly, the roller follower traveling down a ramp as the motor moves the pick assembly away from a wall of a media tray holding the media. 18) The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising: a media tray having an opening and holding the media; a pin mounted to the carriage, wherein the pin secures the media tray by passing into the opening when the carriage is in the first position and passes out of the opening when the carriage is in the second position. 19) The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a gear train with a gear rack, wherein the motor is mounted to a structure that the carriage slides within and the gear train rotates and applies a force to the gear rack that causes the carriage to move on rails. 20) The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a media tray holding the media, wherein the carriage is driven with the motor back and forth as the media tray is opened and closed. 